Improvement in shrub and flower-boxes



GUSTAF cUsTAFsON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

Letters Patent No.' 964,202, dated August 31, 1869.

doof- IMPROVEMENT IN `SHZR'IZJ'IB'ANII) FLOWER-BOXES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Y ,'Inen and others, for. containing earth, in which small treesand'shrubs are grown and preserved for trans"- portation; and Y' Y y It consists in hinging the sides of the box to the base or pedestal upon which they are placed, or which' is used for a bottom to the box, so that they may be' allowed to fall out, and leave the earth in which the tree or shrub is planted, free to be removed'in a mass, which can then be done without vdisturbing the soil about the roots of the tree.

To more fully illustrate and describe my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, form'- iug a palt of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view, in which one side is shown partly Open.

The same letters represent identical parts Wherever they occur in each Ot' the drawings.

A is the base or pedestal of a box, of that classem'- ployed for containing earth inwhich small trees and shrubs are grown and preserved for-transportation.

. When the ordinary box is used for this purpose, it is necessary to destroy the box when it is desired to remove the tree or shrub, and this cannot be' done; without disturbing the roots of the'shrub or tree in the soil, and to some extent injuring its growth. l v In order to avoid the necessity of destroying the box or injuiing the tree onshrub, I make the sides B B so that they will lit together in the' proper manner, and attach them to the pedestal A by' means'of hinges'O, or other suitable device, so that they can be raised up and secured by any suitable means in the form of a box;-

For securing the sidesrin position, I employ hooks D, the rods of which are bent at right angles, so as to encirclev the outside corners of the box, the hook fastening into a staple on the side next to that to which the hook is attached,'but other devices of an equiva lent nature can be used for the same purpose..

On the bottom and inside Of the box, I place a square block, E, which is just large enough to fit at thebase of the sides, which prevents the earth from touching the base A, which would otherwise cause it to become rotten.l

. The block E cau be renewed whenever desired.

The loose or false' bottom l] should betaken up together with the plant and earth, as it will thus pre- Vent the lower portions of the earth from falling Oif and leaving the roots bare. v

A hole,v a, is made through the blocky E and base A,

through which the Water, employed for watering thev plant, passes oii.

When it is desired to remove a plant or shrub, and

more particularly trees of larger growth with extended roots, it is only necessary to release the sides and allow them to fall out. This leaves themoulded earth What I claim, and desire to secure by Iletters Pateht isl l 1. Alflower, shrub, ortree-box, formed ofthe sides B, hinged upon the bottom A, and secured together at the top by bent hooks D, o1' other equivalent' device, substantially as-described.

2. yIn combination with he hinged` sides B, the loose or false bottom E, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

-ln witness whereof, .I have hereunto set niy hand and seal.

GUSTAF GUSTAFSON. [11. s.] IVitnesses:

J. L. BOONE,

GEO. H. STRONG.- 

